Dumbest thing you ever did on gun repair

[JamesDong]

Come on, we have all done it. Today was my day.

I have a 1950 vintage Russian SKS that when I got it she had an aftermarket Chinese fixed magazine that wouldn't feed. Since it's cold and snowy outside I figured I'd tinker with it and reinstall the original 10 round magazine back on it.
Had one HELL of a time getting it out, had to drive the hinge pin and take it out in 2 parts.

Eventually reinstalled original part.... gun went bang just fine but wouldn't cycle.

I brought it back inside and pondered what was wrong watching TV. Sitting on the coffee table was............ you guessed it, the gas valve! Put that back on and Crazy Ivan shoots as advertised. I'm glad I didn't pay 400 dollars for a straight pull SKS!

Lets hear some of your DUH moments.

[Virgil Co.C]

Well , my finest gunsmithing the trigger guard on my 870 broke maybe ran over , long story , soooooo I took duct strap cut it down and what was left of the trigger guard I used mini screws and screwed on the strap , little bit of file smooth off the sharp edges , gtg. Wish I knew how to put pictures up on here never works for me always says it’s to big , technology challenged. It’s still on there till this day and been every bit of 20 years . Soaked the end of barrel in transmission fluid then heated to get the choke out. I used and abused that 870 when I was on the farm. Thing is a tank.swear by the 870. Harvested a lot of food with it . Take better care of her these days she has since been retired but I do pull her out for a hunt now and then for ole time sake.

[Alan3413]

Mine's when some detent spring or other goes "ping!" and is never seen again.

Not particularly outstanding, except it's happened too many times to count.

Also, first time reassembly of a Ruger Mk II. Once you figure out the trick you're okay. But until then...

[slsc98]

I’m sure I’ve got (at least one) more bone-headed than this but,

right off the top of my head: AK-47 front sight drift with a hammer.

[Oswaldo87]

Had a S&W .455 hand ejector parkerized. It was nice shape but no original finish left or maybe some sort of nickel plated (couldn’t really tell). It was real ugly but good shape. Should have hung on to it and blued it when I started slow rust bluing a few years later. Kind of kick myself for it. I was able to trade it at a gun show for a pre model 10. Another one I should have kept.
Also tried to cold blue my grandpaw’s old single shot 16ga. It looked better than when I got it. I eventually slow rust blued it later. Looks great now.

[Melnic]

My first 22 was only 7 years ago.
I took it to a gunsmith to be cut down to 16.5" and threaded to shoot squirrels suppressed.
Not only was it $30 more than they quoted and took 3 months, Its accuracy went to crap. It would hold 1" groups @ 50 yards and now I"m lucky to get 3" now. Should have left it alone.

[Sam Salvati]

Broken tap fixing the POS rear sight on a mini 14. I wanted to go up two sizes on that screw anyway haha

[Nickberg500]

Don't know if this counts but..

My 3d printed pistol "hand" grip had a problem where the spring pushed itself too far into the plastic (didn't use a high enough infill). Didn't want to disassemble the hand because it was very difficult to get on, had to perform surgery on it to retrieve the spring/detent

[slsc98]

Originally Posted by Melnic

... Should have left it alone.

It wouldn’t hurt for me to use some wood and a wood burner pen to craft some signs with those very words on it and hang it over my gun work bench ...


And my garage wall ...



And my shed .....



And my workshop ....


Heck, I might even get “Leave it Alone” tattooed on the back of my hand!

[Doco Overboard]

One time I attempted repair to a mis assembled sks trigger group that someone monkeyd with.
I thought I had it and went to function test.
Somehow or another I managed a slam fire with my right index finger on the bolt knob and included web of thumb.